EU report: Environmental impact of oxo-degradable plastic

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, adopted in May 2015, commits the Commission to examine the impact of the use of oxo-degradable plastic on the environment. A study, published May 2017, has been undertaken by Eunomia Research & Consulting in response to this request. Throughout this study, the material is referred to as Pro-oxidant Additive Containing (PAC) Plastic.
The evidence suggests that PAC plastic is not suitable for any form of composting or Anaerobic Digestion process and will not meet current standards for packaging recoverable through composting in the EU (EN 13432). PAC plastics are designed to degrade in much slower timeframes than are required for industrial composting.
Click here for more information about the report.
Click here for the report (2.68 MB).
With NVC MERGE (Members-only Environmental Regulations Guide) you can keep up-to-date with the environmental requirements for your packaging. MERGE is exclusively for NVC members and there are no costs involved.
Click here for more information about the NVC Project PUMA: the end of packaging as an environmental issue. You are welcome to join us for the next project meeting on 4 April 2018.

This news item is also included in our monthly overview, the NVC Members-only Update. If you have any questions, please contact us: info@nvc.nl, +31-(0)182-512411.